From ever-so-chic classics to quirky new properties that have burst onto the scene – these are the city's most charasmatic places to stay
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The French capital’s boutique hotel scene has never been more packed, and that’s a good thing because hoteliers are going further to create memorable stays through personalised touches, unique experiences and elevated dining offerings. Whether you’re looking for a romantic bolthole in the Marais, a mansion house in Montmartre, a room with a rock-and-roll twist in Pigalle, or chic affordability in an up-and-coming suburb, there’s an original address to suit every taste. Here’s our round-up of the best.
How we review
All our reviewers are either resident destination experts or travel writers that specialise in hotels. Often they will have stayed at a hotel many times and so can see how it has changed for better or worse over the years. They know what makes a great hotel in that particular destination and will compare it contextually against local competition. When our reviewers first visit a hotel, they stay for at least one night, eat one meal in addition to breakfast and will experience all of the facilities on offer. Whichever category of room they stay in, they will see the entry-level rooms in order to assess them.
After their stay, our reviewers then give the hotel six scores out of 10, rating its location, style and character, service and facilities, rooms, food and drink, and value for money. The average of these scores then determines the overall score. Our experts then select reviews for curated lists like this – the best hotels in a particular destination for families, for instance – together with the Telegraph Hotels team.
At a glance, the best boutique hotels in Paris
- Best overall boutique hotel in Paris – Hôtel Providence
- Best budget boutique hotel in Paris – Hotel Henriette
- Best boutique hotel in Paris near the Louvre – Chochou Hotel
Bejewelled in lavish fabrics, unique objets d’art and superbly crafted bespoke details, this is a luxury lifestyle hotel that lives up to its promise. Every last art piece, light switch and fabric in the 1854 townhouse, which neighbours the Italianate Théâtre de la Renaissance on boulevard Saint-Martin, has been individually chosen with impeccable taste by Pierre Moussié, his wife Elodie and their friend Sophie Richard. The result is nothing short of superb. All 18 rooms are utterly gorgeous – think velvet armchairs, vintage curiosities and House of Hackney velvet wallpaper emblazoned with Art Deco banana palms and other exotic foliage.
The best hotels in France
A fine new addition to the rapidly expanding hotel scene in Paris. The restored Grand Hôtel Cayré offers supremely stylish public areas and bedrooms, some with Eiffel Tower views, plus a great cocktail bar and restaurant (don’t miss the championship-winning eggs Meurette, or indeed the pomme purée). The hotel has 123 rooms including two suites. There are three main categories, Classic, Superior and Deluxe, which have a mixture of balconies and views including Sacré Cœur. If you can, spring for an Eiffel Tower room; admiring it from your balcony is really rather lovely.
From £ 477
per night
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The plain frontage of this fashionable Marais district hotel belies the veritable jewellery box of tasteful opulence that awaits inside. Bold colours and oriental design motifs are juxtaposed with neo-gothic décor, combined with kitsch details from Légion d'honneur-decorated designer Jacques Garcia. The attention to detail extends to the rooms, which are decorated in rich colours and furnished with fine patterned fabrics and retro light fixtures. The double bed is indulgently large and extremely comfortable. The bathrooms are the pièce de résistance of each room, with deep luxurious tubs and black granite flooring.
From £ 520
per night
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An insider's guide to paris
Le Pigalle, named after the buzzy neighbourhood in which it sits, blends retro and modern to achingly cool effect, courtesy of design duo Charlotte De Tonnac and Hugo Sauzay. Each of the 40 rooms is a little different – staying in them is like staying in the room of a hip Parisian friend with exceptionally good taste: a Seventies drinks cabinet here, a Sixties velvet armchair there, but with thoroughly modern comforts and amenities, such as television and USB sockets. Charmingly hotchpotch paintings, photos and prints (from local artists, naturally) decorate the walls and surfaces, plus a small selection of Paris-themed books.
From £ 269
per night
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Le Grand Pigalle was one of the first creations of Parisian cocktail mavens Experimental Group and set the tone for a clutch of hip boutique hotels to follow. The décor of the property, located on a corner located Haussmann-style building, uses chic retro pieces (panelling, plush banquette, patterned tiling) to create a space that is stylish, without being overly edgy. The long bar/restaurant offers buzzy atmosphere in the evenings with a mix of local creative types and visitors. Some rooms on the second and fifth floor have elegant wrought-iron balconies with a view over the surrounding narrow streets.
From £ 225
per night
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The best luxury hotels in paris
Instagram satisfaction is guaranteed at The Hoxton, with period details of the original 18th-century hôtel particulier mixing with on-point décor from the Soho House creatives. The building, an 18th-century affair – once residence of Etienne Rivié, adviser to Louis XV – adds a distinctly French flavour, with original spiral staircases and mosaic marble floors. Room categories are based purely on size: Shoebox (pretty dinky); Cosy; Roomy; Biggy (large and with high Parisian ceilings). Guests are greeted with music, courtesy of a vintage Roberts radio and each room has a small selection of books curated by a “Hoxton Friend” (creative types living or working in the local area).
From £ 429
per night
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This elegant, family owned boutique property is centrally located in the heart of the Marais, with an exceptionally secluded and charming location off the magnificent Place des Vosges. Expect a warm, low-key welcome, comfortable rooms and a Michelin-starred in-house restaurant. The small hotel’s 57 rooms are all styled a little differently, with a smart finish and plush, inviting fabrics throughout. Some rooms feature original exposed beams and hand-picked antique pieces, while others have a more contemporary look, with bold colours and prints.
From £ 668
per night
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The best budget hotels in Paris
Hidden from the outside world, down an enchanting old-world alley in the fabled artist quartier of Montmartre, this hidden 19th-century mansion is the last word in Parisian chic. It was previously home to members of the Hermès and Rothschild families, and the house has lost none of its bourgeois-home charm. The five suites are spacious and eclectic, and the fashionable cocktail bar and restaurant, with dreamy summer seating, is in the little black book of every Parisian A-lister. The real darling with Parisian fashionistas is Le Très Particulier, the back-door cocktail bar with tasty tapas, tropical Garden of Eden décor and a bewitching summer garden.
From £ 608
per night
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This hotel is very much a celebration of French design, craftsmanship, and culture. Its blue and white palette references France’s national colours, suites pay homage to French cultural icons, and in the large open restaurant, which is crowned by a huge glass verrerie and lit with strings of bare bulbs, it’s all about sharing a love of French wines and gastronomy across communal dining tables. Regular live music events play everything from 1920s French hits to Daft Punk and Sunday’s comedy nights, also in French, are clearly aimed at a local crowd. Sitting on the edge of the hip 9th Arrondissement it's got easy access to many of Paris’ main sights.
From £ 436
per night
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The best hotels near the Eiffel tower
The hotel comprises two identical properties, 'Adele' and 'Jules', two doors apart, which adds a touch of idiosyncratic character and a dose of Parisian architectural atypicality. The hotel has a low-key contemporary look, with an emphasis on comfort and homeliness in the form of warm colours, comfortable furnishings and soft lighting. The lobby/dining area (identical in both buildings) features a well-stocked bookshelf and comfortable sofa and Paris-themed contemporary artwork. It feels homely and livable, and even in the dinkier standard doubles, space is used judiciously. Some rooms feature terraces that back onto the courtyard, and there are pretty balconies on the second and fifth floors.
From £ 349
per night
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This low key but stylish hotel enjoys a central location, with easy access to the Louvre and Palais Garnier opera. Décor mixes the French features of the Haussmanian building with contemporary furnishings. Standout features include the dark Hungarian parquet in the lobby and a vintage chrome stove in the breakfast area. There is a subtle literary theme, with French novels decorating the attractive bookshelf in the lobby, and a small selection in the rooms. Décor is crisp and contemporary, with touches of a retro aesthetic – think copper lamps and Deco-style patterns on the fabrics. There are some attractive period features too, such as wall mouldings and exposed wood beams in some rooms.
From £ 225
per night
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The best luxury hotels in London
There’s no forgetting you’re in Paris at this groundbreaking hotel afloat a stylish boat on the River Seine. The innovative Elegancia hotel group behind Paris’s first boat hotel has created a floating cocoon where guests can disconnect from urban life. With its beachy lounge bar – fast becoming a hot spot for sundowners among trendy Parisians – and laidback vibe, this is an address where guests kick off their shoes, dip their toes in the water and relax on a shimmering golden Fatboy with ethereal Seine views. The beauty of waking up to a water view and Parisian péniches sailing by is likewise undeniable and it's a great value price per night too.
From £ 201
per night
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The best budget hotels in London
French postal history and design infuse this five-star hotel with storied chic and priceless quirk. Fashionably retro-styled rooms inside France’s national post-office building eyeball the Paris skyline and lounging over cocktails in the sky garden is a romantic summer date. Dining spans Parisian café to DJ-spun fusion. There are few hotels where you really can get lost on the rooftop: this is one of them, albeit in a sustainable 1000-square-metre labyrinth of aromatic herbs, potted cherry trees, solar panels and unparalleled Paris-skyline views. The monumental building – a gorgeous piece of dressed-stone Hausmann architecture from 1878-88 – served as France’s postal headquarters (famously staying open 24/7 to sort and dispatch the nation’s mail) until 2015.
From £ 796
per night
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Interior designer Dorothée Meilichzon found inspiration in an 18th-century French queen for the styling of this chic hotel in the 2nd Arrondissement. A hidden courtyard, Franco-Italian cuisine, a cocktail bar and soigné rooftop are highlights. This is the third hotel to open in Paris by Experimental Group, itself a homegrown, Paris-based hospitality success story. Something of a hipster townhouse, the hotel is a revisited urban-cool ode to 18th-century Paris (think Louis XVI, French Revolution). Glitzy French designer Dorothée Meilichzon has waved a magic wand over the interiors, drawing on the fads and foibles of excess-loving, "let them eat cake" queen Marie-Antoinette as principal inspiration.
Rooms from £ 304
per night
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The most romantic hotels in Paris
Paris’ original lifestyle hotel oozes urban flair near the Europe’s largest flea market. Design rooms are effortlessly stylish; and the trendy music bar, organic locavore restaurant and summer garden buzzes with activity day and night. The low-lying, U-shaped building squirrels away 90 rooms on two floors. Entry-level doubles are spacious by Parisian standards, with carefully chosen fabrics in rich earthy tones and an eclectic choice of decorative objects to pique curious minds: theatrical red-velvet curtains with gold fringe as a bedhead, Chinese shadow puppets to play with, art books to browse.
From £ 78
per night
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The most romantic hotels in London
This pretty little boutique hotel makes a cosy and romantic base for a city break in Paris, and has some of the bohemian Left Bank's most charming attractions a short walk away. Expect a relaxed atmosphere and excellent design credentials. Each of the 32 rooms is a little different but all are inventively decorated in the hotel’s characteristic bohemian-chic style. Floors are a light Hungarian parquet, offset with a combination of matte walls and feature wallpaper, depending on the room. Décor is a chic hotchpotch of styles; think classic Parisian wood-panelled doors combined with art deco pieces, vintage mirrors, natty rugs and linen cushions.
From £ 160
per night
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The best restaurants in Paris
Standing out in the crowded Parisian hotel scene isn't easy, but this maximalist boutique has made a splash with its full-on floral theme, tree-filled courtyard garden, chic rooftop bar and surprisingly good spa. But the real coup is securing triple-Michelin-starred chef Dominique Crenn for the pescatarian restaurant, café and bar. The fun, floral theme is slightly more restrained in the 63 rooms and 10 suites, with an inviting palette of soft greens and yellow paired with tactile walls and the use of natural hessian fabric. They remain wonderfully whimsical with big china lamps decorated with creeping plants, lilypad-shaped crockery and pretty, leaf-sprouting spoons; silky eye masks and CBD gummies are left on pillows and each room is stocked with a posy of fresh flowers.
From £ 544
per night
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Contributions by Emma Beaumont, Natasha Edwards, Hannah Meltzer & Nicola Williams